The Dirty Dozen PLUS
The top 12 most contaminated had remained relatively consistent other than a few items shifting positions. But in 2012 a “PLUS” category was added to the original dozen. Conventionally-grown green beans, kale and collard greens have been given special consideration because of an especially dangerous toxin they are treated with. Organophosphate insecticides are toxic to the neurological system and are found in even higher amounts on bell peppers and nectarines (numbers 3 and 6 on the Dirty Dozen list).

The Clean Fifteen
Not many changes to the Clean Fifteen – onions, sweet corn and pineapple round out the top 3 least contaminated fruits and vegetables.

Newcomers
This year, the EWG reports included information on pesticides in baby food and drinking water. Samples of green bean, pear and sweet potato baby food were tested. Sweet potatoes were the only variety that turned up clean! Drinking water testing wasn’t much better — the majority of drinking samples came back contaminated with various toxic pesticides and herbicides.